System and method for setting link parameters in a WiFi link

ABSTRACT

A system and method for operating a link. In some embodiments, the method includes transmitting a first quantity of data, using a first number of spatial streams, and a first bandwidth, receiving N1 acknowledgment signals, N1 being a nonnegative integer; receiving N2 negative acknowledgment signals, N2 being a nonnegative integer; adjusting an estimated signal to interference and noise ratio for the first number of spatial streams and the first bandwidth, based on N1 and N2; estimating a first throughput for the first number of spatial streams and the first bandwidth; estimating a second throughput for a second number of spatial streams and a second bandwidth; determining whether the second throughput exceeds the first throughput; and in response to determining that the second throughput exceeds the first throughput, transmitting a second quantity of data, using the second number of spatial streams, and the second bandwidth.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/807,544, filed Feb. 19, 2019, entitled“SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENHANCED OPEN LOOP LINK ADAPTATION”, the entirecontent of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

One or more aspects of embodiments according to the present disclosurerelate to wireless communications, and more particularly to a system andmethod for setting link parameters in a WiFi link.

BACKGROUND

In a WiFi system, various parameters may be adjusted when data aretransmitted. These parameters include the modulation coding scheme, thenumber of spatial streams and the bandwidth. The throughput of a WiFilink may depend on the channel and on the parameters chosen, and, assuch, it may be advantageous to use link adaptation, e.g., to adapt theparameters to the operating conditions of the link.

Thus, there is a need for a system and method for setting linkparameters in a WiFi link.

SUMMARY

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, there isprovided a method for operating a link, the method including: adjustinga respective estimated signal to interference and noise ratio for eachof a plurality of combinations of spatial stream numbers and bandwidths;determining a modulation and coding scheme for each of the plurality ofcombinations; estimating a plurality of throughputs, each correspondingto a respective one of the plurality of modulation and coding schemes;selecting a maximum throughput from the plurality of throughputs; andtransmitting data according to the modulation and coding scheme, spatialstream number, and bandwidth associated with the maximum throughput.

In some embodiments, the adjusting of the respective estimated signal tointerference and noise ratio for a first combination of the plurality ofcombinations of spatial stream numbers and bandwidths includes:transmitting a first quantity of data, using the first combination;receiving N1 acknowledgment signals, N1 being a nonnegative integer;receiving N2 negative acknowledgment signals, N2 being a nonnegativeinteger; and adjusting an estimated signal to interference and noiseratio for the first combination, based on N1 and N2.

In some embodiments, the adjusting of the estimated signal tointerference and noise ratio includes: adding, to a previously estimatedsignal to interference and noise ratio for the first combination, anadjustment based on an estimated error rate, the adjustment being:greater than zero when the estimated error rate is zero, and less thanzero when the estimated error rate is one.

In some embodiments: the number of spatial streams of a secondcombination of the plurality of combinations of spatial stream numbersand bandwidths, exceeds the number of spatial streams of the firstcombination, or the bandwidth of the second combination exceeds thebandwidth of the first combination, and the estimating of the throughputcorresponding to the modulation and coding scheme of the secondcombination includes adjusting an estimated signal to interference andnoise ratio for the second combination, the adjusting of the estimatedsignal to interference and noise ratio for the second combinationincludes adding, to a previously estimated signal to interference andnoise ratio for the second combination, the adjustment based on theestimated error rate.

In some embodiments: the previously estimated signal to interference andnoise ratio for the first combination is a sum of: a first referencesignal to interference and noise ratio, and an offset; and the adding ofthe adjustment to the previously estimated signal to interference andnoise ratio for the first combination includes adding the adjustment tothe offset.

In some embodiments, the method further includes calculating the firstreference signal to interference and noise ratio based on a signal tointerference and noise ratio measured during reception of a beaconsignal.

In some embodiments, the calculating of the adjustment includes:determining whether: the estimated error rate is less than a targeterror rate, a current modulation coding scheme is equal to a maximummodulation coding scheme, and the offset exceeds a first threshold; andin response to determining that: the estimated error rate is less thanthe target error rate, the current modulation coding scheme is equal tothe maximum modulation coding scheme, and the offset exceeds the firstthreshold, setting the adjustment to zero.

In some embodiments, the calculating of the adjustment includes:determining whether: the estimated error rate is greater than a targeterror rate, a current modulation coding scheme is equal to a minimummodulation coding scheme, and the offset is less than a secondthreshold; and in response to determining that: the estimated error rateis greater than the target error rate, the current modulation codingscheme is equal to the minimum modulation coding scheme, and the offsetis less than the second threshold, setting the adjustment to zero.

In some embodiments, the adjustment is calculated according to(1−PER)*snrStep/(1/targetPer−1)+PER*(−snrStep), wherein: PER is theestimated error rate, targetPer is a target error rate, and snrStep isan adjustment rate parameter.

In some embodiments, the estimated error rate is calculated asN2/(N1+N2).

In some embodiments, the target error rate is calculated based on anumber of consecutive errors.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, there isprovided a system including a WiFi transmitter including a processingcircuit, the processing circuit being configured to: adjust a respectiveestimated signal to interference and noise ratio for each of a pluralityof combinations of spatial stream numbers and bandwidths; determine amodulation and coding scheme for each of the plurality of combinations;estimate a plurality of throughputs, each corresponding to a respectiveone of the plurality of modulation and coding schemes; select a maximumthroughput from the plurality of throughputs; and transmit dataaccording to the modulation and coding scheme, spatial stream number,and bandwidth associated with the maximum throughput.

In some embodiments, the adjusting of the respective estimated signal tointerference and noise ratio for a first combination of the plurality ofcombinations of spatial stream numbers and bandwidths includes:transmitting a first quantity of data, using the first combination;receiving N1 acknowledgment signals, N1 being a nonnegative integer;receiving N2 negative acknowledgment signals, N2 being a nonnegativeinteger; and adjusting an estimated signal to interference and noiseratio for the first combination, based on N1 and N2.

In some embodiments, the adjusting of the estimated signal tointerference and noise ratio includes: adding to a previously estimatedsignal to interference and noise ratio an adjustment based on anestimated error rate, the adjustment being: greater than zero when theestimated error rate is zero, and less than zero when the estimatederror rate is one.

In some embodiments: the number of spatial streams of a secondcombination of the plurality of combinations of spatial stream numbersand bandwidths, exceeds the number of spatial streams of the firstcombination, or the bandwidth of the second combination exceeds thebandwidth of the first combination, and the estimating of the throughputcorresponding to the modulation and coding scheme of the secondcombination includes adjusting an estimated signal to interference andnoise ratio for the second combination, the adjusting of the estimatedsignal to interference and noise ratio for the second combinationincludes adding, to a previously estimated signal to interference andnoise ratio for the second combination, the adjustment based on theestimated error rate.

In some embodiments: the previously estimated signal to interference andnoise ratio for the first combination is a sum of: a first referencesignal to interference and noise ratio, and an offset; and the adding ofthe adjustment to the previously estimated signal to interference andnoise ratio for the first combination includes adding the adjustment tothe offset.

In some embodiments, the processing circuit is further configured tocalculate the first reference signal to interference and noise ratiobased on a signal to interference and noise ratio measured duringreception of a beacon signal.

In some embodiments, the calculating of the adjustment includes:determining whether: the estimated error rate is less than a targeterror rate, a current modulation coding scheme is equal to a maximummodulation coding scheme, and the offset exceeds a first threshold; andin response to determining that: the estimated error rate is less thanthe target error rate, the current modulation coding scheme is equal tothe maximum modulation coding scheme, and the offset exceeds the firstthreshold, setting the adjustment to zero.

In some embodiments, the calculating of the adjustment includes:determining whether: the estimated error rate is greater than a targeterror rate, a current modulation coding scheme is equal to a minimummodulation coding scheme, and the offset is less than a secondthreshold; and in response to determining that: the estimated error rateis greater than the target error rate, the current modulation codingscheme is equal to the minimum modulation coding scheme, and the offsetis less than the second threshold, setting the adjustment to zero.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, there isprovided a system including a WiFi transmitter including means forprocessing, the means for processing being configured to: transmit afirst quantity of data, using a first number of spatial streams, and afirst bandwidth; receive N1 acknowledgment signals, N1 being anonnegative integer; receive N2 negative acknowledgment signals, N2being a nonnegative integer; adjust an estimated signal to interferenceand noise ratio for the first number of spatial streams and the firstbandwidth, based on N1 and N2; estimate a first throughput for the firstnumber of spatial streams and the first bandwidth; estimate a secondthroughput for a second number of spatial streams and a secondbandwidth; determine whether the second throughput exceeds the firstthroughput; and in response to determining that the second throughputexceeds the first throughput, transmit a second quantity of data, usingthe second number of spatial streams, and the second bandwidth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the present disclosure willbe appreciated and understood with reference to the specification,claims, and appended drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a flowchart for a portion of a method for setting linkparameters in a WiFi link, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for a portion of a method for setting linkparameters in a WiFi link, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for a portion of a method for setting linkparameters in a WiFi link, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 4 is a table of signal to interference and noise ratio (in dB)required for various modes of operation, for a 1458 byte packet size,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a table of transmit power level for different modes ofoperation, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 6 is a table of signal to interference and noise ratio (in dB)required for various modes of operation, taking into account transmitpower differences, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appendeddrawings is intended as a description of exemplary embodiments of asystem and method for setting link parameters in a WiFi link provided inaccordance with the present disclosure and is not intended to representthe only forms in which the present disclosure may be constructed orutilized. The description sets forth the features of the presentdisclosure in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to beunderstood, however, that the same or equivalent functions andstructures may be accomplished by different embodiments that are alsointended to be encompassed within the scope of the disclosure. Asdenoted elsewhere herein, like element numbers are intended to indicatelike elements or features.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart for a portion of a method for setting linkparameters in a WiFi link, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. Referring to FIG. 1, in some embodiments, a method forsetting link parameters in a WiFi link begins with setting, for eachcombination of (i) the number of spatial streams to be transmitted, and(ii) the transmission bandwidth, a reference signal to interference andnoise ratio, as discussed in further detail below, forming a table, forexample. For example, a beacon signal may be received (at 105), and areference signal to interference and noise ratio may be calculated (at110) based on the signal to interference and noise ratio measured forthe beacon. As used herein, “signal to interference and noise ratio” maybe abbreviated to “SINR”, “SNR”, “snr”, or “Snr”. The calculating of thereference signal to interference and noise ratio may include adjustingthe signal to interference and noise ratio value to 20 MHz for adaptivebandwidth allocation and for adaptive number of spatial streams, asfollows:refSnrLinear(Nss,BW)=(snr of Beacon*2^(BW-1))*(Maximum Nss)/Nsssaving refSnr(Nss,BW)=10*log 10(refSnrLinear(Nss,BW)).

Where Maximum Nss is maximum number of supported spatial streams at thedevice, Nss is number of spatial stream, and BW represents bandwidthindex.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for a portion of a method for setting linkparameters in a WiFi link, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. Referring to FIG. 2, an adjustment may be formed, based onacknowledgment signals and negative acknowledgment signals received (aspart of a block acknowledgement (BA), at 205), in response totransmitted signals, with the estimated signal to interference and noiseratio, for the current combination of the number of spatial streams andthe transmission bandwidth, generally being adjusted upwards when theacknowledgment signals and negative acknowledgment signals indicate alow packet error rate, and generally being adjusted downwards when theacknowledgment signals and negative acknowledgment signals indicate ahigh packet error rate. The method may then add an adjustment (at 210)to some (or all) of the reference signal to interference and noiseratios, to form a table of estimated signal to interference and noiseratios, as discussed in further detail below. In some cases, exceptionsto the above-described adjustment process are made, as discussed infurther detail below, to avoid the method becoming “stuck” at onecombination of the number of spatial streams and the transmissionbandwidth in certain circumstances.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for a portion of a method for setting linkparameters in a WiFi link, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. Once a table of estimated signal to interference and noiseratios is available (having been generated using the methods of FIGS. 1and 2), the method may proceed as illustrated in FIG. 3, to identify thenumber of spatial streams, bandwidth, and modulation coding scheme to beused for a transmission. Before the transmission starts, the throughputis calculated for each combination of the number of spatial streams andthe transmission bandwidth. This calculation is performed within twonested loops, including an outer loop (at 315 through 335) that iteratesover all values of the number of spatial streams, and an inner loop (at315 through 330) that iterates over all values of the bandwidth. Asubsequent bandwidth and a subsequent Nss are selected (at 330 and 335,respectively) at each iteration of the inner and outer loops,respectively. The throughput is calculated, at 315, for each combinationof the number of spatial streams and the transmission bandwidth, andcompared to a greatest value found so far.SINReff(Nss,BW)=refSnr(Nss,BW)+deltaSnr(Nss,BW)

and maximum MCS may then be obtained based on SINReff.

If the current value exceeds, at 320, the previously found maximumthroughput, then the current, newly found, maximum value of thethroughput is saved, at 325, along with the corresponding values of thenumber of spatial streams and the bandwidth.

The calculating of the throughput, for each iteration of the inner loop,may be performed as follows. For a combination of the number of spatialstreams and the transmission bandwidth, the estimated signal tointerference and noise ratio may be obtained from the table of estimatedsignal to interference and noise ratios generated according to themethod of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a table of signal to interference and noiseratio (in dB) required for various modes of operation, for a 1458 bytepacket size, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Theestimated signal to interference and noise ratio may be used to identifythe maximum modulation coding scheme that may be used, using the tableof FIG. 4; once the modulation coding scheme has been selected, thethroughput may be calculated, based on the modulation coding scheme, thenumber of spatial streams, the transmission bandwidth. In the table ofFIG. 4, the first (left-most) column contains the index of modulationcoding scheme; the third, fifth, and seventh columns contain the signalto interference and noise ratio (in dB) required for the modulationcoding scheme shown in the first column if convolutional code (CC) isused, and the modulation coding schemes shown in the second, fourth, andsixth columns, respectively. The eighth column shows the signal tointerference and noise ratio (in dB) required for the modulation andcoding scheme shown in the first column if low-density parity-check(LDPC) code is used.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure try to maintain a targetpacket error rate (PER) by estimating an effective signal tointerference and noise ratio (SINReff) (which may be referred to hereinas an “estimated signal to interference and noise ratio”). In someembodiments the method begins from a reference SINR, and adjusts anestimated signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR) based on a deltasignal-to-noise ratio (delta SNR), which may in turn be based onacknowledgement (ACK) and negative acknowledgement (NACK) signals of atransmitted packet.

In some embodiments, different numbers of spatial streams (Nss, e.g.,different ranks) and different bandwidths (BW, e.g., 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 60MHz, and 80 MHz bandwidths) may have different SINReff that can beestimated separately.

In operation, the system may calculate an estimated signal tointerference and noise ratio for each possible combination of (i) thenumber of spatial streams and (ii) the bandwidth, as follows:SINReff(Nss,BW)=refSnr(Nss,BW)+deltaSnr(Nss,BW)

where refSnr(Nss,BW) is a reference signal to interference and noiseratio (discussed in further detail below), and deltaSnr(Nss,BW) is anoffset that is periodically updated.

When acknowledgment signals and negative acknowledgment signals arereceived, the system may adjust the estimated signal to interference andnoise ratio, for the number of spatial streams and the bandwidthcurrently being used, based on the number of acknowledgment signals andon the number of negative acknowledgment signals received. For example,the AMPDU (Aggregated MAC Protocol Data Unit) Tx Status may be evaluatedto calculate a current PER (packet error rate) based on a number ofsuccessful MPDUs (MAC Protocol Data Units) and a number of failed MPDUs.For example, the system may adjust the offset according to the equation:deltaSnr(Nss,BW)+=(1−PER)*snrStep/(1/targetPer−1)+PER*(−snrStep),

(i.e., an adjustment equal to(1−PER)*snrStep/(1/targetPer−1)+PER*(−snrStep) may be added to theoffset), where Nss is an index for the transmitted number of streams, BWis an index for the transmitted bandwidth, snrStep is an SNR step size(which acts as an adjustment rate parameter) (which may be set to 2 dB),targetPer is a target packet error rate (or “target error rate”) (e.g.10%), and PER is an error rate (or an “estimated error rate”) (e.g., apacket error rate) which may be based on the current packet from BA. Ifthe current packet includes only one media access control (MAC) protocoldata unit (MPDU), then the packet error rate may be 1 or 0. In someembodiments, use of the above equation may result in frequent changes ofmodulation coding scheme. This effect may be reduced by using, insteadof a constant targetPer, the following:targetPer(X)=(8−X)/(56+X),

where X is a number of consecutive errors.

In some embodiments, the offset may be adjusted only for the number ofspatial streams and the bandwidth currently being used, and for certainother combinations of the number of spatial streams and the bandwidth,(e.g., for (Nss+1,BW) and for (Nss,BW+1), as discussed in further detailbelow). For other combinations of the number of spatial streams and thebandwidth, the offset may remain the same, or no adjustment may be addedto the offset.

In some embodiments, it may be desirable to limit the maximum andminimum values deltaSnr may take. In some embodiments, the methodimplements a restriction not to increase deltaSnr when (i) the packeterror rate is less than the target error rate (ii), the currentmodulation coding scheme (MCS) is equal to the maximum modulation codingscheme, and (iii) the offset (deltaSnr) exceeds a first threshold; theadjustment may be set to zero in this circumstance.

Similarly, the method may implement a restriction not to decreasedeltaSnr when (i) the packet error rate is greater than the target errorrate, (ii) the current modulation coding scheme (MCS) is equal to theminimum modulation coding scheme, and (iii) the offset (deltaSnr) isless than a second threshold (less than the first threshold, e.g., lessthan zero); the adjustment may also be set to zero in this circumstance.

When the reference signal to interference and noise ratio isunderestimated, it may be possible for the number of spatial streams tobecome “stuck”, i.e., for the number of spatial streams used to remainunchanged even though a larger number of spatial streams may providebetter performance. In some embodiments, to avoid this behavior, theoffset for the next higher number of spatial streams(deltaSnr(Nss+1,BW)) may be increased when (i) the packet error rate isless than the target error rate and (ii) the current modulation codingscheme exceeds a certain MCS (e.g., MCS 7).

When the reference signal to interference and noise ratio for a certainbandwidth is not correctly estimated, then, in some embodiments, it maybe adjusted. In order to change from an incorrect bandwidth, when thebandwidth is less than the bandwidth of the basic service set (BSS), thepresent system may increase the offset for the next higher bandwidth(deltaSnr(Nss,BW+1)) when (i) the packet error rate is less than thetarget error rate and (ii) the current MCS is greater than a certain MCS(e.g. MCS 7). The bandwidth of the BSS may be the maximum bandwidth thatcan be used with the AP. The AP may set its maximum bandwidth to be usedfor operation. It may change the BSS bandwidth by updating it andinforming it through the beacon.

The reference signal to interference and noise ratio (refSnr(Nss,BW))may be a stored signal to interference and noise ratio that may beupdated by feedback or measured during previous data reception. Forexample, acknowledgement signals (ACK), request to send (RTS) signals,clear to send (CTS) signals, or a beacon signal may be used to determinethe reference signal to interference and noise ratio. For example, abeacon signal may be employed by a non-access point station (non-APSTA). The uplink SINR may be the relevant information, but it may beinformation that the non-AP STA does not have direct access to.Accordingly, the uplink SINR may be estimated based on the reference SNRand the delta SNR. As such, the reference SNR may be a starting pointand the delta SNR an adjustment to it.

If all interference levels are similar for the operating bandwidth or ifa non-AP STA does not have the capability to measure the signal tointerference and noise ratio per 20 MHz bandwidth, then refSnr(Nss,1)may be derived from 20 MHz reference signal to interference and noiseratio (if this is measured from the beacon), and the reference signal tointerference and noise ratio may be reduced by 3 dB or 6 dB each, as thebandwidth is increased to 40 MHz or 80 MHz, respectively. If the non-APSTA is capable of measuring the signal to interference and noise ratioper 20 MHz bandwidth, and if narrow band interference from overlappingbasic service sets (OBSS) may be present, the reference signal tointerference and noise ratio may be measured and stored for differentbandwidths. This may be accomplished by measuring the beacon signal tointerference and noise ratio, using it as the primary 20 MHz signal tointerference and noise ratio, and averaging the detected received signalstrength indicator (RSSI) level per 20 MHz bandwidth. This may beaccomplished during a per 20 MHz clear channel assessment energydetected (CCA-ED) measurement, when the primary 20 MHz is idle. LettingRSSI1 (NI1) be the RSSI measured for the primary 20 MHz when it is idle,letting refSnr(Nss,1) be the signal to interference and noise ratio forthe beacon, and letting RSSIi(NIi) be the RSSI measured for the i-th 20MHz band, the following may be derived:refSnr(Nss,1)=Ptx(dBm)+PL(dBm)−NI1Ptx(dBm)+PL(dBm)=refSnr(Nss,1)+NI1Sinr_i=refSnr(Nss,1)+NI1−NIi

Then, the primary 20 MHz/40 MHz/80 MHz refSnr may be obtained using thefollowing.

For 20 MHz:refSnr(Nss,1)=refSnr_Beacon,

for 40 MHz:refSnr(Nss,2)=pow2db((db2pow(refSnr(Nss,1))+db2pow(Sinr_2))/4), and

for 80 MHz:pow2db((db2pow(refSnr(Nss,1))+db2pow(Sinr_2)+db2pow(Sinr_3)+db2pow(Sinr_4)))/16),respectively.

In some embodiments, NIi may be measured using a moving average so thatit can capture current load information.

In some embodiments, downlink and uplink performance may differ fromeach other. Also, different ranks (i.e., different numbers of spatialstreams) may have different values for the reference signal tointerference and noise ratio. Even though a method according to someembodiments may converge without adjustment (except when conditions areat an extreme of good or bad conditions), some embodiments may estimatea closer value based on available information such as a number ofantennas and a transmit power level. In one embodiment, the presentsystem and method includes adjusting a refSnr for different numbers ofspatial streams when a reference signal to interference and noise ratiois available or estimated. A geometry signal to interference and noiseratio may be obtained from received signal strength, using, for example,the following relations:refSnr(1)=geoSnr,thenrefSnr(Nss)=refSnr(1)+pow2db(max((Nrx−Nss+1)/Nss,1)).

After determining an effective signal to interference and noise ratio,some embodiments may estimate the packet error rate for each MCS (e.g.,using PHY abstraction), and thus the expected throughput accordingly.Then, a transmitter may select the BW, MCS and Nss that is expected toresult in the greatest throughput.

FIG. 5 is a table of transmit power level for different modes ofoperation, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.According to one embodiment, the present system may transmit differentpower levels to meet an error vector magnitude (EVM) requirement, astransmit power for different bandwidths, different modulation levels,and different PHY modes may be different, as shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 6 isa table of signal to interference and noise ratio (in dB) required forvarious modes of operation, taking into account such transmit powerdifferences, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Forexample, in some embodiments, the present system may handle differenttransmit power levels by adjusting the reference signal to interferenceand noise ratio by −1 dB for a bandwidth of 40 MHz, adjusting thereference signal to interference and noise ratio by −2 dB for abandwidth of 80 MHz, and adding −1 dB for reference curves above 64QAMmodulation level, for example to compensate for the difference betweenMCS5 and MCS9.

In some embodiments, a processing circuit may perform the methods ofsome embodiments, or portions of such methods. The term “processingcircuit” is used herein to mean any combination of hardware, firmware,and software, employed to process data or digital signals. Processingcircuit hardware may include, for example, application specificintegrated circuits (ASICs), general purpose or special purpose centralprocessing units (CPUs), digital signal processors (DSPs), graphicsprocessing units (GPUs), and programmable logic devices such as fieldprogrammable gate arrays (FPGAs). In a processing circuit, as usedherein, each function is performed either by hardware configured, i.e.,hard-wired, to perform that function, or by more general purposehardware, such as a CPU, configured to execute instructions stored in anon-transitory storage medium. A processing circuit may be fabricated ona single printed circuit board (PCB) or distributed over severalinterconnected PCBs. A processing circuit may contain other processingcircuits; for example a processing circuit may include two processingcircuits, an FPGA and a CPU, interconnected on a PCB.

It will be understood that, although the terms “first”, “second”,“third”, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements,components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components,regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms.These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region,layer or section from another element, component, region, layer orsection. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or sectiondiscussed herein could be termed a second element, component, region,layer or section, without departing from the spirit and scope of someembodiments.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “under”,“above”, “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease ofdescription to describe one element or feature's relationship to anotherelement(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will beunderstood that such spatially relative terms are intended to encompassdifferent orientations of the device in use or in operation, in additionto the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the devicein the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or“beneath” or “under” other elements or features would then be oriented“above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example terms “below”and “under” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. Thedevice may be otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or at otherorientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein shouldbe interpreted accordingly. In addition, it will also be understood thatwhen a layer is referred to as being “between” two layers, it can be theonly layer between the two layers, or one or more intervening layers mayalso be present.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of some embodiments.As used herein, the terms “substantially,” “about,” and similar termsare used as terms of approximation and not as terms of degree, and areintended to account for the inherent deviations in measured orcalculated values that would be recognized by those of ordinary skill inthe art. As used herein, the term “major component” refers to acomponent that is present in a composition, polymer, or product in anamount greater than an amount of any other single component in thecomposition or product. In contrast, the term “primary component” refersto a component that makes up at least 50% by weight or more of thecomposition, polymer, or product. As used herein, the term “majorportion”, when applied to a plurality of items, means at least half ofthe items.

As used herein, the singular forms “a” and “an” are intended to includethe plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising”, when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or”includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associatedlisted items. Expressions such as “at least one of,” when preceding alist of elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modifythe individual elements of the list. Further, the use of “may” whendescribing some embodiments refers to “one or more embodiments of thepresent disclosure”. Also, the term “exemplary” is intended to refer toan example or illustration. As used herein, the terms “use,” “using,”and “used” may be considered synonymous with the terms “utilize,”“utilizing,” and “utilized,” respectively.

It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to asbeing “on”, “connected to”, “coupled to”, or “adjacent to” anotherelement or layer, it may be directly on, connected to, coupled to, oradjacent to the other element or layer, or one or more interveningelements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element or layeris referred to as being “directly on”, “directly connected to”,“directly coupled to”, or “immediately adjacent to” another element orlayer, there are no intervening elements or layers present.

Any numerical range recited herein is intended to include all sub-rangesof the same numerical precision subsumed within the recited range. Forexample, a range of “1.0 to 10.0” is intended to include all subrangesbetween (and including) the recited minimum value of 1.0 and the recitedmaximum value of 10.0, that is, having a minimum value equal to orgreater than 1.0 and a maximum value equal to or less than 10.0, suchas, for example, 2.4 to 7.6. Any maximum numerical limitation recitedherein is intended to include all lower numerical limitations subsumedtherein and any minimum numerical limitation recited in thisspecification is intended to include all higher numerical limitationssubsumed therein.

As used herein, the term “or” should be interpreted as “and/or”, suchthat, for example, “A or B” means any one of “A” or “B” or “A and B”

Although exemplary embodiments of a system and method for setting linkparameters in a WiFi link have been specifically described andillustrated herein, many modifications and variations will be apparentto those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is to be understood that asystem and method for setting link parameters in a WiFi link constructedaccording to principles of this disclosure may be embodied other than asspecifically described herein. Some embodiments are also defined in thefollowing claims, and equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for operating a link, the methodcomprising: adjusting a respective estimated signal to interference andnoise ratio for each of a plurality of combinations of spatial streamnumbers and bandwidths; determining a modulation and coding scheme foreach of the plurality of combinations; estimating a plurality ofthroughputs, each corresponding to a respective one of the plurality ofmodulation and coding schemes; selecting a maximum throughput from theplurality of throughputs; and transmitting data according to themodulation and coding scheme, spatial stream number, and bandwidthassociated with the maximum throughput.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the adjusting of the respective estimated signal to interferenceand noise ratio for a first combination of the plurality of combinationsof spatial stream numbers and bandwidths comprises: transmitting a firstquantity of data, using the first combination; receiving N1acknowledgment signals, N1 being a nonnegative integer; receiving N2negative acknowledgment signals, N2 being a nonnegative integer; andadjusting an estimated signal to interference and noise ratio for thefirst combination, based on N1 and N2.
 3. The method of claim 2, whereinthe adjusting of the estimated signal to interference and noise ratiocomprises: adding, to a previously estimated signal to interference andnoise ratio for the first combination, an adjustment based on anestimated error rate, the adjustment being: greater than zero when theestimated error rate is zero, and less than zero when the estimatederror rate is one.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein: the number ofspatial streams of a second combination of the plurality of combinationsof spatial stream numbers and bandwidths, exceeds the number of spatialstreams of the first combination, or the bandwidth of the secondcombination exceeds the bandwidth of the first combination, and theestimating of the throughput corresponding to the modulation and codingscheme of the second combination comprises adjusting an estimated signalto interference and noise ratio for the second combination, theadjusting of the estimated signal to interference and noise ratio forthe second combination comprises adding, to a previously estimatedsignal to interference and noise ratio for the second combination, theadjustment based on the estimated error rate.
 5. The method of claim 4,wherein: the previously estimated signal to interference and noise ratiofor the first combination is a sum of: a first reference signal tointerference and noise ratio, and an offset; and the adding of theadjustment to the previously estimated signal to interference and noiseratio for the first combination comprises adding the adjustment to theoffset.
 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising calculating thefirst reference signal to interference and noise ratio based on a signalto interference and noise ratio measured during reception of a beaconsignal.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the calculating of theadjustment comprises: determining whether: the estimated error rate isless than a target error rate, a current modulation coding scheme isequal to a maximum modulation coding scheme, and the offset exceeds afirst threshold; and in response to determining that: the estimatederror rate is less than the target error rate, the current modulationcoding scheme is equal to the maximum modulation coding scheme, and theoffset exceeds the first threshold, setting the adjustment to zero. 8.The method of claim 5, wherein the calculating of the adjustmentcomprises: determining whether: the estimated error rate is greater thana target error rate, a current modulation coding scheme is equal to aminimum modulation coding scheme, and the offset is less than a secondthreshold; and in response to determining that: the estimated error rateis greater than the target error rate, the current modulation codingscheme is equal to the minimum modulation coding scheme, and the offsetis less than the second threshold, setting the adjustment to zero. 9.The method of claim 3, wherein the adjustment is calculated according to(1−PER)*snrStep/(1/targetPer−1)+PER*(−snrStep), wherein: PER is theestimated error rate, targetPer is a target error rate, and snrStep isan adjustment rate parameter.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein theestimated error rate is calculated as N2/(N1+N2).
 11. The method ofclaim 9, wherein the target error rate is calculated based on a numberof consecutive errors.
 12. A system comprising a WiFi transmittercomprising a processing circuit, the processing circuit being configuredto: adjust a respective estimated signal to interference and noise ratiofor each of a plurality of combinations of spatial stream numbers andbandwidths; determine a modulation and coding scheme for each of theplurality of combinations; estimate a plurality of throughputs, eachcorresponding to a respective one of the plurality of modulation andcoding schemes; select a maximum throughput from the plurality ofthroughputs; and transmit data according to the modulation and codingscheme, spatial stream number, and bandwidth associated with the maximumthroughput.
 13. The system of claim 12 wherein the adjusting of therespective estimated signal to interference and noise ratio for a firstcombination of the plurality of combinations of spatial stream numbersand bandwidths comprises: transmitting a first quantity of data, usingthe first combination; receiving N1 acknowledgment signals, N1 being anonnegative integer; receiving N2 negative acknowledgment signals, N2being a nonnegative integer; and adjusting an estimated signal tointerference and noise ratio for the first combination, based on N1 andN2.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the adjusting of the estimatedsignal to interference and noise ratio comprises: adding to a previouslyestimated signal to interference and noise ratio an adjustment based onan estimated error rate, the adjustment being: greater than zero whenthe estimated error rate is zero, and less than zero when the estimatederror rate is one.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein: the number ofspatial streams of a second combination of the plurality of combinationsof spatial stream numbers and bandwidths, exceeds the number of spatialstreams of the first combination, or the bandwidth of the secondcombination exceeds the bandwidth of the first combination, and theestimating of the throughput corresponding to the modulation and codingscheme of the second combination comprises adjusting an estimated signalto interference and noise ratio for the second combination, theadjusting of the estimated signal to interference and noise ratio forthe second combination comprises adding, to a previously estimatedsignal to interference and noise ratio for the second combination, theadjustment based on the estimated error rate.
 16. The system of claim15, wherein: the previously estimated signal to interference and noiseratio for the first combination is a sum of: a first reference signal tointerference and noise ratio, and an offset; and the adding of theadjustment to the previously estimated signal to interference and noiseratio for the first combination comprises adding the adjustment to theoffset.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the processing circuit isfurther configured to calculate the first reference signal tointerference and noise ratio based on a signal to interference and noiseratio measured during reception of a beacon signal.
 18. The system ofclaim 16, wherein the calculating of the adjustment comprises:determining whether: the estimated error rate is less than a targeterror rate, a current modulation coding scheme is equal to a maximummodulation coding scheme, and the offset exceeds a first threshold; andin response to determining that: the estimated error rate is less thanthe target error rate, the current modulation coding scheme is equal tothe maximum modulation coding scheme, and the offset exceeds the firstthreshold, setting the adjustment to zero.
 19. The system of claim 16,wherein the calculating of the adjustment comprises: determiningwhether: the estimated error rate is greater than a target error rate, acurrent modulation coding scheme is equal to a minimum modulation codingscheme, and the offset is less than a second threshold; and in responseto determining that: the estimated error rate is greater than the targeterror rate, the current modulation coding scheme is equal to the minimummodulation coding scheme, and the offset is less than the secondthreshold, setting the adjustment to zero.
 20. A system comprising aWiFi transmitter comprising means for processing, the means forprocessing being configured to: transmit a first quantity of data, usinga first number of spatial streams, and a first bandwidth; receive N1acknowledgment signals, N1 being a nonnegative integer; receive N2negative acknowledgment signals, N2 being a nonnegative integer; adjustan estimated signal to interference and noise ratio for the first numberof spatial streams and the first bandwidth, based on N1 and N2; estimatea first throughput for the first number of spatial streams and the firstbandwidth; estimate a second throughput for a second number of spatialstreams and a second bandwidth; determine whether the second throughputexceeds the first throughput; and in response to determining that thesecond throughput exceeds the first throughput, transmit a secondquantity of data, using the second number of spatial streams, and thesecond bandwidth.